Category: News

Congrats to Students on the Spring 2023 Dean’s List

Congratulations to this semester’s Dean’s List students.

North Park is proud to announce the spring 2023 Dean’s List. In order to qualify, students must earn at least 12 semester hours of credit and achieve a GPA of 3.5 or higher for the term. All courses must have been completed.

Congratulations to this semester’s Dean’s List students:

Austriaco, Jonathan D

Azzo, Angelina

Babbo, Maximo Francisco

Banks, John Tyler

Barriga, Angel

Barrios, Giwu Paulo

Bartlett, Robert Larue

Bolivar, Leidy Ximena

Bonto, Trisha Faye

Booker, Darien Joseph

Bragg, Garrett J

Bringman, Erik

Brown, Ameerah S

Bulanhagui, Angelo Elazegui

Bulwa, Adam D

Camacho, Rey Jesus

Cardenas, Citlalli

Chow, Jordan M

Cruz-Gonzalez, Montserrat A

Cudmore, Cedrik N

Dabeca, Jasmina

Dahl, Katherine Johanna

Dahlberg, Lillian Rae

Dervisevic, Mujo

Doughty, Acacia F

Egbebi, Kudus A

Eix, Emily Ellen

Erimia, Stella S

Flo, Isak

Frank, Malka M

Fremouw, Clark John

Friel, Chase K

Gabriel, Kayla E

Garrett, Stark Atticus

Geonanga, Alyssa Louise Hinayan

Gissinger, Olav Kvaale

Gligorevic, Aleksandar

Gordon, Veronica Rose

Gutman, Marli S

Hansson, Josefin Louise

Hearl, Brock Andrew

Herescu, John P

Abonce, Gabriela

Abou Tara, Carol B

Abreu, Rebecca Wilson

Aco, David Michael Feliciano

Aco, Joshua F

Acob, Sherly Serdenia

Adam, Ninos

Adame, Judy Yang

Ademulegun, Olaoluwaposi Ademidun

Adjiwanou, Ornelia Joanita Miwanonvi

Adkinson, Jason Gabriel

Adusei, Precious P

Aedling Ring, Thea Elisabeth

Aguilar, Steve

Aguilos, Kiara Kirsten

Ahlen, Maya

Ahlgren, Emelie Caroline

Ahmad, Iram Bashir

Akinlade, Oluwatofunmi V

Alagar, Teiya Levani

Alanis, Raul Jr

Almendras, Estrella C

Alvarez, Brenda A

Alvarez, Jennifer S

Alvstad, Stella Marta Lois

Alzola, Maria Aranzazu

Amadon, Mary Gretchen

Amarei, Philip Nicholas

Ames, Abigail Grace

Amezcua, Manuel J

Ansari, Sanah B

Aparicio, Jacqueline

Arakaki, Reece Shiro

Ardelean, Bianca

Argiropoulos, Bill John

Arkoub, Wahib

Arroyo, Yenci

Arsenis, Nicole Kristine

Artajo, Matthew R

Ashorian, Lucas

Asp Lundborg, Ruben

Assoofee, Maryam

Attefall, Sarah Hedvig Maria

Atto, Melissa M

Avila, Felix Jesus

Avila, Yareli

Ayala, Joseph Alcaudio

Ayar, Christian K

Ayeski, Kevin James

Back, Agnes Linnea Maria

Baiocchi, Claire Elizabeth

Baithey, Melissa A

Baker, Daniel J

Baker, Eden Claire

Baker, Rebekah Joy

Balestra, Stefania Alessandra

Ball, Sebastian Z

Balmaseda, Abigail Marie

Baumgartner, Nolan P

Bawm, Langjaw Ting

Benares, Ria Lauren

Bergqwist, Anna Linnea

Bergstrand, Clara Emma Frida

Binkley, Erika Wynne

Blan, Karim Alla

Blatchford, Carson Paul

Bogg, Lina Love Mikaelsdotter

Boles, Jiliyn Minhua

Bora, Andrea

Borkeeiet, Angelica

Borst, Liberty Grace

Boudakh, Danielle M

Boudakh, Nicole Teresa

Brammer, Rebecca Ann

Brandt, Love

Brinkmann, Gabriella Carolyn

Broekhuijsen, Friso

Brooks, Daniel Vern

Brown, Cassidy A

Buduan, Jonathan Paolo

Bugge, Maria Elise Calizo

Bullard, Lily Elise

Burkholder, Christian Miles

Bush, Derekmikel’ Devon

Buss, Maggie R

Bustos, Jetzabelle M

Buzdugan, Bogdan Emanuel

Caballero Fiallos, Stephanie Nicole

Cabrera, Vicente Javier

Cafferkey, Edward James

Camargo, Jasmine

Camper, Makenna Caitlin

Capilla Scurto, Lucia

Carter, Caleb

Carter, Maurice Arndell

Castaneda, Joseph Guillermo

Causgrove, Logan Phillip

Cazes, Carla Elsa

Celis, Azary

Chapello, Anthony S

Chase, Amelia R

Chaudhary, Maryam Fatima

Cheney, James Paul

Chhakchhuak, Lalhnehpuia

Chmura, Julia

Choi, Ji Na

Cikmirovic, Seila

Colucci, Jessica Lynn

Condoy, Alejandro Eduardo

Corachea, Eryn Nyl Guillen

Corona, Kaitlyn

Coronel, Fiorela Danely

Crisan, Debora R

Crouch, Abigail E.

Cruz, Desiree Mariah

Cuyun, Abigail Joenna

Damm, Anton

Dao, Frans

Daoud, Andrew George Michael

Daoud, Christin M

Daoud, Christopher Michael

Darrow, Ella Jeannine

De Carro, William Jacob Juhani

De Luca, Joshua Peter

De Luca, Olivia Elizabeth

Dejworek, Michal Jozef

Del Pilar, Alexander

Dero, Benail G

Desilma, Michael

Diaz, Jesse James

Diaz, Karina

Diaz-Santos, Cristian Alexander

Dibra, Enesa

Dickinson, Hannah Lucille

Dinelli, Anthony James

Divito, Alexander Ian

Durakovic, Aila

Duran, Maritza

Duvall, Eva Marguerite

Dvorak, Carter Richard

Dyngeland-Sunden, Anna Felicia

Easterling, Joi A

Eck, Matthew Layne

Efstathiou, Labrene Alexandra

Ekman, Victor

Eriksson, Olivia Rut

Esho, Maryam Nabeel

Espinoza, Marlene

Estevane-Praxedis, Gabriela Jasmine

Estrada Trujillo, Keely Mary

Fasogbon, Ayomide E

Fedosyeyeva, Ivanna

Feely, Bridget Amber

Feliciano, Ariana Yvette

Fiorenza, Cole D

Fitiu, Edward

Flores, Jacob G

Foote, Ava Joy

Fousias, Annamaria S

Futi, Fidelie Ma-Nzambi

Gabriel, Christian Shamoun

Gagen, Madison Ann

Galvan, Alfredo Ventura

Garcia Martinez, Valeria

Garcia, Axel Damian

Garcia, Luis Angel

Garcia, Scarlett E

Garza, Sofia E

Gatta, Christina R

George, Aleena Merry

Geronimo, Julia Alexa

Giannoni, Kristoff Giuseppe

Glanas, Catharina Felicia

Gomez, Amando

Gomez, Sergio J

Gonzalez, Emily

Gonzalez, Samantha

Gorman, Erin Taylor

Green, Justen Thomas James

Grivot Volkmann, Sofia

Guerrero, Sebastian A

Gustafsson, Lisa Johanna Maria

Gutierrez, Alejandro R

Gutierrez, Angel

Gutosic, Lejla

Guzman, Frida T

Guzman, Manuel Alejandro

Haas, Tyler

Habash, David N

Hackney, Claire Elizabeth

Hahn, Lucy Rae

Halilovic, Adis

Hamad, Adam

Hankins, Annalise

Hanna, Jonathan

Hanna, Rudolph B

Harter, Madison Taylor

Haska, Sophia Erika

Hasmonek, Sophia Grace

Hatieganu, Alexandra J

Hayden, Zachary Paul

Haynie, Keaton Lily

Heathcoat, Kaely Jetsia

Heinz, Emilia R

Helm, Teo

Heppner, Grace M

Hernandez, Graciela

Hernandez, Jesus

Hernandez, Mariel Fernanda

Hernandez, Nicole

Hernandez, Ricardo Alexis

Herrera, Darlene

Hiatt, Lillian May Joy

Hibben, Zacchary Michael

Hidalgo, Karl Anthony Taduran

Hill, Quadrell

Himatay, Jenelle Caitlin

Hjelle, Ida Elise

Hoglund, Hans Lars Gunnar

Holkert, Cecilia Elise Kristina

Horton, Charis Alison

Hougen, Kaya D

Howell, Samuel Philip Sabio

Huang, Elaina Meishan

Huang, Weizhen

Huebner, Rhianna Nichelle

Hughes, Dylan A

Hultgaardh, Maerta

Hunjan, Reechard Zorawaar

Hunt, Campbelle C

Hunt, Megan Elizabeth

Huseman, Theodore R

Hussein, Hadeel

Ingerson, Isaac Daniel

Ingrao, Ty Aaron

Invencion, Tristan J

Irizarry, Jonathan David

Isaac, Aniar

Jackson, Samuel Jack

Jacob, Kevin B

Jaffery, Syeda W

Jakubowski-Leon, Wesley Dakota

Jamil, Haris

Janovsky, Rebecca Paulene

Jara, Nick Ivan

Jasko, Kathryn Elizabeth

Javed, Tahira

Jepsen, Riley Donald

Jimenez, Carlos Elijah

Jimenez, Crystal

Johnsamson, Jonah I

Johnson, David Steven

Jones, Jenna Ware

Jubran, Omar Muhammad

Kalamperovic, Dino

Kalantzis, Izabella K

Kalemba, Frank L

Kao, Anne

Karam, Daniella S

Karlsoeen, Sander Andrem

Kass, Samantha Marie

Kawa, Julia Aleksandra

Kayo, Isabelle K

Kazmi, Zainab B

Khan, Zeeshan Amir

Khoshaba, Destiny M

Khoshaba, Faith Eden

Khoshaba, Jonathan

Khoury, Samantha

Kisija, Ilhana

Klein, Emma Jean

Klein, Julia Grace

Kleiner, Michael

Kochanowski, Kinga

Kodial, Jatin Singh

Koraeel, Jennifer

Kozor, Thomas Mitchell

Kromwell, Ubaydullah Hamid

Kruse, Victor Erik

Kuriakose, Christeena

Kyosev, Georgi Georgiev

Lajin, John L

Lamb, Elijah Brennan

Langstaff, Hailey Anne

Lara, Daniela

Lasalle, Emily Lynne

Layeeq, Safah

Le, Huy

Ledezma, Julian

Lenzie, Roy Hazel

Leon Collada, Berta

Lezama, Viviana

Libu, Siya S

Lichter, Aly Ana

Lim, Ellie Catherine

Lima, Crystal Emerald

Lind, Alva Anna Lovisa

Lindberg, Ellen Charlotte

Lisova, Anastasia

Little, Jaclyn Joy

Lopez Fajardo, Briseyda L

Lopez, Arianna Daniela

Lopez, Julian T

Lorenz, Kayla A

Lorica, Zoe Rebekah Emi

Lostetter, Lauren Anne

Lozada, Fernanda Aeri

Lozano, Matthias Domingo

Lucchetto, Gianfranco

Lucero Blancas, Joanna Yaneli

Lunde, Tobias

Lynch, Delaney M

Macam, Kirsten F

Madrid, Frederick Kyle Zafra

Magardician, Moses D

Magno, Mark Jason Pedrola

Malik, Sana

Mangalindan, Shae A

Maniwan, Antonio Jose Mah

Manlongat, Kaitlyn Claire Z.

Maratos, Anna S

Marin Figueroa, Shaira X

Marin, Jessica

Marion, Daniel Steven

Marsano, Alanis F

Martinez, Alexandra C

Martinez, Carlos Antonio

Martinez, Miguel Angel

Martinez, Sa-Lah E

Martini, Alicia

Marty, Samuel

Mazur, Samanta Laura

McEvilly, Mary-Grace Marie

McKinstry, Cade Michael

McKnight, Lauren A

McTighe, Kristiana K

Mejia, Gianluca

Memon, Aayesha Abid

Mendenhall, McKenna L

Mendro, Samantha Marie

Menjivar, Lizbeth A

Mercado, Olivia M

Meza, Enrique Ivan

Miazek, Patrycja Weronika

Mikhail, Gabriela Mary

Mikolajczyk, David Tomasz

Miller, Anna Elise

Miller, Esther Rose

Miller, Gwendolyn Eve

Miller, Hanna Joy

Miller, Jennifer L

Miller, Liam N

Miranda, Dayanni Alexandra

Miron, Nathan Benjamin

Mirzapolis Adeh, Anmary

Mitchell, Trinity Summer

Modi, Dhruv Kirankumar

Moes, Taylor Louise

Molander, Mira Mady

Molek, Dawid

Montelongo, Dana L

Moreno, Madai

Morey, Christian Lee

Morrison, Claudia Rose

Moy, Rebecca L

Mudalige, Ometh Heenkenda

Mujeeb, Amra

Mun, Emily S

Mustafa, Maram Majid

Nang, Takeo Garrett

Nano, Melinda Nichole

Naples, Lilly D

Naseh, Artin

Neborg, Hugo Eric, Benjamin

Nelson, Erik T

Nelson, Lance Christian

Newell, Adrian T

Nguyen, Duong Bao Khang

Nguyen, Matthew Hai

Nguyen, Quynh N

Nguyen, Van

Nichols, Ava Elizabeth

Niemann, Kayla A

Nilsson, Elvira Ingrid Margareta

Nkuku, Ikenna Edward

Nordqvist, Linn Christin

Norrmann, Shakira

Notali, Ishtar M

Nuese, Jackson J

Nunez, Nora Marielena

Nwankwo, Chizolum R

Nystrom, Wilda Maria Isabelle

Nytko, Emily E

Odisho, Anthony G

Ohanes, Brenda

O’Hara, Erin Marie

Okeke, Ijeamaka Venus

Olsson, Klara Kristina Sofia

Olsson, Saga Helena

Ombogo, Jereme C

Oropesa, Helen Isabelle

Owegie, Anita O

Padilla, Brandon Germaine

Palackic, Samir

Palomares, Ciro Mateo

Parker, Ellie Rose Mae

Parker-Fox, Aaliyah P

Parra, Carina

Pasca, Rahela E

Passarelli, Rossella Ada Christina

Patel, Vishal H

Patino, Katie

Patino, Yesenia

Patton, Katherine Marie

Patton, Lydia D

Payne, Parker Reese

Pehlic, Amanda A

Pena-Cisneros, Valeria Nahomi

Perdue, Jaden Brooke

Perez, Gerardo

Perez, Jose

Perez, Jose Manuel

Perruffel, Sophie Isabelle

Perry, Victoria Judaea

Petersen, Victoria T

Pham, Vy Lam Trieu

Philip, Sharan Biju

Pineda, Gabriel Alejandro

Piwowarski, Kevin

Plata, Alexander

Pogue, Julia Renee

Poort, Suzann Olsen

Pop, Sara

Porter, William F

Posada Torres, Alexia Giselle

Powell, Noah Thomas

Prieto, Daniel Robert

Protofanousis, Ana Marianthi

Psyhogios, Nikoletta

Quibell, Lesly Naomi

Ramgren, Evelyn Grace

Ramos, Joaquin Antonio

Rangel Espinosa, Abel B

Rathod, Jaydevsinh Vishnuji

Rayyan, Yasmeen J

Reardon, Emma Alanna

Rebollo, Jasmine

Resendez, Giovanni Rafael

Rex, Eliza R

Reyes Delgado, Wilber

Reynolds Duncan, Saeauna Reynolds

Reynolds, Frida Isabel

Rhea, Isaac Daniel

Richards, Ashley S

Richmond, Abby James

Rickert, Samantha M

Rios-Herrera, Elaiza

Riziki, Georgette

Rizos, Christina M

Robinson, Davante P

Robinson, Samuel Jeffery

Robles, Angie Nicole

Robles, Anthony Alexander

Robles, Yesenia

Rodda, Megan Lee

Rodrigues, Jessica

Rodriguez, Adriana S

Rodriguez, America Belem

Rodriguez, Daniel

Rojas, Kevin G

Roman, Vivianne Mariana

Rotramel, Kayla Marie

Rottman, Annaliese Jenn

Rounseville, Kimberly S

Rude, Caleb J

Rugland, Herman

Ruiz, Erik Julian

Rullander Rudenstam, Felicia Maria

Russ, Shelby Louise

Ryan, James David

Rydberg, Oskar Johan Valur

Rydell, Nils Gustav Vidar

Rzepecki, Elizabeth Anne

Sabovic, Dino

Sadah, Shanna

Saddiqa, Amna

Salgado-Hernandez, Alexandra

Sanchez, Brian

Sanchez, Daniel Junior

Sanchez, Jasmine

Sanchez, Juridia Alondra

Sanchez, Marybeth

Sandoval, Karla Natalie

Sandoval, Selena

Santiago, Jade Symone

Santos, Isabella

Sapolu, Kayla M

Sator, Hanik

Sawyer, Abigail J

Schaffer, Joseph Stephen

Schmidt, Brian Angelo

Schneider, Brett Robert

Schroeder, Aiden Michael

Schuh, Davianna Yasmine

Seignious, David Girma

Self, Griffin K

Sensmeier, Abigail Gove

Serrano, Yaritza

Shaikh, Mariyum Huda Mohammed Salman

Shawel, Sandy Mary

Sheaff, Abigail Ruth

Sheldon, Lindsey M

Sheth, Atiq A

Shimizu, Ami

Shumlansky, Gustaf John

Sia, Erika Rose

Siakavelis, Petros Xrisovalantis

Siddiqui, Hamna I

Sighete, Naomi

Simon, Sharon M

Singh, Manisha

Skog, Matilda Ida

Smolle, Tim Sture

Snyder, Sydney Allison

Soedergaard, Johanna Helena

Soenderland, Aslak

Solgos, Evelea G

Sommerfeld, Nathan Alexander

Sorisho, Stephanie J

Sotelo, Jayla C

Sparlin, Katelyn Rae

Spasic, Tanya Maria

Ssebugwawo, Jordan Nicholas

Stalberg, Marcus Evald Gunnar

Stan, Sara Denisa

Starr, Jacob C

Stramaglio, Nicolett E

Strathman, Josie Lael

Suarez, Jayleen Victoria

Suqi, Leila Luz-Ingrid

Surowka, Alexandra Anne

Svendsen, Moa Elisabet Laerke

Swanlund, Tre Roger

Swanson, Justin Andrew

Sward, Alfred Gustaf

Swedberg, Sofie

Szmigielski, Julia M

Tamo, Katrina

Tamras, Jeania Janet

Tan, Madelyne Angelina

Tauscheck, Megan Lynn

Tegnhed, Anna

Tejera, Michell Paola

Thomas, Anjana S

Thomas, Jonathan Miles

Thomas, Lydia C

Timba, Mandisa

Tinajero, Stephania N

Tkoletz, Kathleen R

Toca, Philemina Frances

Tomuta, Stephanie Emily

Tomy James, Angela

Torres, Arely

Trachtman, Ellie

Tran, Hieu Ha Minh

Tran, Nguyen K

Tveit, Tore

Tvenning, Faith

Ujkashi, Armend

Ujkashi, Lindon

Underwood, Emily K

Uribe, Sebastianas Dainius

Vaaland, Christian Finnesand

Valdes, Thalia

Valentin, Arianna

Van Doorn, Alva Julia Linnea

Vander Ploeg, Madelyn M

Vargas, Denisse

Vargas, Yariliz Teneal

Vassar, Delaney Sloan

Vata, Berna

Vazquez, Itati

Velic, Melisa Na

Ver Beek, Erika F

Vidmo, Alexander Kristoffer

Villarreal, Angelina Y

Vinson, Kate E

Viotoh, Ametepe Jacques

Vitkovsky, Ester

Vogelsburg, Thea H

Vu, Giang Q

Vujic, Ajla

Vukasin, Stefan

Wallin, Rocco Michael

Watt, Marcus D

Wehseler, Morgan Janet

Wennerqvist, Jakob Gustav Victor

Wentzel, Elise Rosalie

West, Amara Jayde

Wester, Marcus Alexander Oliver

Wetzel, Hannah G

Whitmore, Olivia A

Wideman, Claire Elizabeth

Wilburn, Skyler Janice

Williams, Jeffrey F

Williams, Tyleah A

Wilson, Mason A

Wolke, Emma Lissette

Woods, Conner J

Woodward, Cole Douglas

Yahya, Hakham M

Yang, Jason

Yokhanna, Klara S

Yonan, Adam S

Yonkman, Olivia C

Yoon, Mary Suh

Youkhana, Ashley Ann

Youmran, Jamila

Young, James Joseph

Yunan, Marita T

Yuquilima, Erick F

Zaar, Ella Maria Bianca

Zapien, Daniel

Zarco, Daisy

Zepeda, Alejandro

Zethraeus, Hanna

Zhen, Tony

Zhong, Kevin

Zingsheim, Isabelle D

Ziskind, Julian

Zola, Joseph Andrew

Zung, Langjaw Ting

Zuniga, Joselin

Posted on Categories Announcement, News, Stories

North Park Students Volunteer Supplies, Medical Services to Honduran Communities

North Park students spent a week in Honduras with Global Brigades, an international nonprofit group, where students shadow Honduran doctors in order to better understand health care in different countries.

Seven North Park students traveled to Honduras during spring break. According to IngMarie Schultz, a rising senior majoring in nursing, the group brought with them supplies such as toothpaste, shampoo, sunscreen, and soap to give out to people within two Honduran towns.

Global Brigades aims to cultivate a nontraditional approach to mission work by transferring ownership of projects and health clinics back to communities once they’re up and running.

We shadowed Honduran doctors, dentists, and optometrists providing care for the communities,” Schultz said. “We were able to help provide medical services to 208 people. This was such an amazing and impactful experience. I hope to be back again next year!” 

North Park students Ella Brinkman, Laura Matias-Gomez, Jiliyn Boles, Joseph Castaneda, Svea Anderson, and Angelina Ostalaza attended the trip along with Nursing Learning Resource Center Coordinator Hannah Son.

North Park students stand with other Honduran community members during a Global Brigades trip.

Global Brigades hosts the students in a secure Honduran compound where members from the community meet with students to integrate them into existing health clinics and structures. Nursing students receive health credits and biology students can complete independent study during the trip.

Posted on Categories News, Stories

Two North Parkers Receive Fulbright Awards, One Named Semifinalist

North Park senior Chase Friel and recent graduate Joel Beyar C’22 have been named recipients of the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program award.

North Park senior Chase Friel and recent graduate Joel Beyar C’22 have been named recipients of the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program award.

Friel, a double-major in biblical and theological studies and politics and government,

will use her Fulbright grant to pursue a Master’s Degree in Inequalities, Interventions, and New Welfare State at the University of Turku in Finland. During the two-year program, she will receive a full-tuition scholarship and additional funds to pursue studies and research on social policy and intervention design.

Joel Beyar, who received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Arabic Studies, will use his Fulbright award to work in the Middle Eastern country of Jordan as an English teaching assistant at a local school. He will also receive funding to continue studying the Arabic language.

Posted on Categories News, Stories

School of Ed Alumni Step into Leadership Roles

Citing their strong leadership abilities, two local school districts have named North Park graduates as principals.

Headshot of an alumnus and an alumna

Citing their strong leadership abilities, two local school districts have named North Park graduates as principals. Mark Rasar G’11 has been tapped to head Fenwick High School in Oak Park, while Stephanie Gage G’16 has been named principal of Betsy Ross Elementary School in Prospect Heights.

In naming Rasar, Fenwick President Fr. Richard Peddicord noted his vast administrative and academic expertise, proven leadership ability, and fresh perspective.

“[Rasar’s] focus on enhancing and growing the premier college preparatory school in the Chicago Catholic League make him the ideal choice,” Peddicord said.

Rasar received his graduate degree from North Park after graduating from Southern Illinois University. He previously served as teacher, department chair, and coach at various schools.

Gage, meanwhile, has been chosen to lead Betsy Ross after serving as assistant superintendent at the district’s McArthur Middle School since July 2022.

“Stephanie has a solid background as an administrator and teacher and has earned a great deal of respect from school staff, students and families in her first year with D23,” Superintendent Don Angeleaccio said.

Gage received her Master’s in Educational Leadership at North Park after earning degrees from Northern Illinois and National Louis Universities.

Gage and Rasar will assume their new positions this summer.

Posted on Categories News, Stories

Vikings Basketball Coach Named Coach of the Year

North Park University’s men’s basketball coach Sean Smith was named 2023 coach of the year.

Sean Smith, basketball coach, talks to team.

North Park University’s men’s basketball coach Sean Smith was named 2023 Coach of the Year by D3Hoops, a leading news site for Division III basketball updates. Before coming to North Park in 2022, Smith coached at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Smith led the Vikings to 24 wins in the 2022–23 season, the most wins since NPU’s 1986 team, and secured the Vikings a spot in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen playoffs.

“I am beyond humbled and grateful to be named the National Coach of the Year,” said Coach Smith. “I consider this a staff award. Also, a big thanks to our team who bought it from day one and led North Park to an historic season!”

Smith is the second North Park coach to win a national award behind men’s soccer coach John Born in 2017.

Posted on Categories News, Stories

Chicago’s Team of the Moment

North Park’s historic men’s basketball 2023 season run is gaining attention from the city it calls home. The team was featured in a Chicago Sun-Times article.

North Park’s historic men’s basketball 2023 season run is gaining attention from the city it calls home. The team was featured in a Chicago Sun-Times article highlighting North Park’s humble roots as a basis for building a major basketball comeback. Head Coach Sean Smith brought in nine transfers to complete the team this year and a few early wins set off a “lightbulb” for the players.

“Our team motto this year, because we have been at the bottom of Division III in a lot of ways, is: Nothing to lose and everything to prove,” Smith told the Sun-Times. Read the full article.

Posted on Categories News, Stories

North Park Included on List of Illinois’ Best Colleges

North Park was ranked #13 on a recent list of Illinois’ Best Colleges.

Two students sitting on a bench talking.

North Park was ranked #13th on a list of Illinois’ Best Colleges. The list, compiled by Stacker media, used rankings from Niche. Tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and location were factors considered in deciding these rankings. Read more about the rankings at Chicago Star Media.

Posted on Categories News, Stories

North Park University Receives $166K Grant From NASA To Install Air Quality Sensors

North Park University will install sensors that detect weather and pollution patterns as part of a $166,000 grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

North Park University will install sensors that detect weather and pollution patterns as part of a $166,000 grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The sensors will be installed atop the Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life on campus.

NASA awarded the five-year grant to North Park in part because of its federal status as a Hispanic Serving Institution, a school that is committed to equitable outcomes for Hispanic students. The two weather sensors will be installed by NASA this spring, and money from the grant will fund travel expenses and salaries for instructors and student workers. The equipment will be owned and maintained by NASA.

The grant was secured through the joint efforts of Assistant Professor of Chemistry John Randazzo and Director of Sponsored Projects Renee Cox. Only about 10 institutions across the country received the grant, and North Park is the lone Chicago site.

The environmental data gathered by the sensors will allow NASA researchers to monitor levels of atmospheric compounds such as carbon monoxide, along with particulate matters expelled by cars and factories. The data will also be compared to that acquired by satellites circling the earth to ensure accuracy. North Park students and professors will have access to that data, which will be transmitted directly into North Park’s classrooms.

“This is a powerful tool because it makes learning real,” Randazzo said. “The students can read the data and know that’s coming from just above their heads.”

Randazzo said the NASA grant was likely to raise North Park’s profile as a research university.

“Building a face-to-face relationship with NASA raises our credibility and increases future prospects,” Randazzo said, adding that a NASA engineer will be speaking on campus in March.

Dr. Randazzo said he and Cox found the grant opportunity on a NASA LISTSERV about a year ago, and although they ignore “99% of them” because they are not applicable, this particular grant struck them both because of North Park’s location and Randazzo’s background in atmospheric science.

The two worked together to apply for the grant, which they learned they’d won late last year. Read more press releases here.

Posted on Categories News, Press, StoriesTags , , , ,

Alumnus Nominated for Grammy Award in Music Education

Trevor Nicholas (’08) is a top ten finalist for the 2023 Music Educator Award.

Trevor Nicholas ’08 is a top ten finalist for the 2023 Music Educator Award.

Trevor Nicholas headshot

Trevor Nicholas (’08) is a top ten finalist for the 2023 Music Educator Award. Nicholas also made it to the top ten for the award last Grammy season.  

“Basically, the purpose of this Grammy is to honor the people who’ve poured into the musicians who have gotten Grammys.”  

Nicholas, a vocal ensemble teacher at Senn High School, always knew music was his passion after health issues as a child left him indoors by the piano most days. 

While he knew the topic, the medium was difficult to nail down. Nicholas began at NPU’s School of Music, Art, and Theatre as a music education major with an instrumental focus but switched to a choral focus his senior year.  

Trevor Nicholas playing piano

“I remember [my professor’s] face when I said, ‘I’m changing to choral’ but they let me do my recital with my original music and they let me take those lessons and change the direction of my degree without starting over. They allowed me to be me.” 

Nicholas said he took advantage of all North Park had to offer, which led to his increased awareness of the world around him and armed him with the skills needed to compose music and ultimately be nominated for the prestigious award. 

“All those experiences have come together. I needed those band skills and theory and composition lessons. I needed to be involved in the global impact trips to question the way things were done.”  

Nicholas is grateful, but more so proud of his students and community who helped him get here.  

“This is really our Grammy nomination.” 

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